Film and Television Editors

Visit film and television museums to learn more about the entertainment industry. Here are a few examples. In addition to brick-and-mortar sites, many have excellent Web sites.

• Academy Museum of Motion Pictures (Los Angeles): https://www.academymuseum.org
• Museum of the Moving Image (Astoria, N.Y.): https://movingimage.org
• Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum (Fremont, Calif.): https://nilesfilmmuseum.org

Shoot your own video and experiment with video-editing software. Ask your school counselor to arrange an information interview or job shadowing experience with a video editor.

Many high schools have film clubs, and some have cable television or Internet-based stations affiliated with the school district. School-run television channels give students the opportunity to create and edit short programs. Check out what's available at your school.

One of the best ways to prepare for a career as a film or television editor is to read widely. By reading literature, you will develop your understanding of the different ways in which stories can be presented. You should be familiar with many different kinds of film and television projects, including documentaries, short films, feature films, TV shows, and commercials. See as many different projects as you can and study them, paying close attention to the decisions the editors made in piecing together the scenes. Additionally, many DVDs now have special features such as interviews with film directors, producers, and editors. By viewing these, you can get a good idea about the decisions that are made during the creation of a film or television show. You should also read books and listen podcasts about the craft of editing. Here are two suggestions: The Art and Craft of Motion Picture Editing, by Michael Hoggan, and the Editors On Editing podcast (https://editfestglobal.com/editors-on-editing). More resources are available at https://americancinemaeditors.org/ed-center.

Large television stations and film companies occasionally have volunteers or student interns. Most people in the industry start out doing minor tasks helping with production. These production assistants get the opportunity to see all of the professionals at work. By working closely with an editor, a production assistant can learn television or film operations as well as specific editing techniques.